Vaporizing system for combustion engines



1929. J. T. BAR'NHART ,7 0,

VAPORIZING SYSTEM FOR COiJBUSTIQN ENGINES .Filed 001;. 24, 1925 2 Sheds-Sheet '1 3, cf T. Barnhomt \NVENTOR m E s WITNESS Q ATTOR I r i H K 0 g F 10,. *u I? 53 T Oct. 8, 1929. J. 'r. BARNHART I VAPORIZING SYSTEM FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1923 J? T. Barn/hart INVENTOR wym ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN T. BARINHALRT, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA VAPORIZING SYSTEM FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed October 24, 1923. Serial No.670,536.

This invention relates'to internal combustion engines, and contemplates a structure designed to use gasoline to start the motor, and then use a cheaper grade of fuel, such as coal oil or the like, to continue the motor in operation.

In carrying out'the invention, it is my purpose to provide an apparatus designed to take the place of the carburetor, so that the 0 gasoline or oil is forced into the cylinders of the motor in the form of a fine spray under pressure, thus providing for a more complete combustion of the fuel, than by the ordinary vaporizing method.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus by means of which the combustion fuel can be continuously atomized or vaporized independently of the engine suction; and between the strokes of the pistons, and also for atomizing the fuel before starting of the engine, whereby the manifold pipe can be filled with fuel to make starting of the motor more positive.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description, is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed. 7

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar'parts in the several views, wherein: Figure 1 is a view of a motor illustrating the preferred form of the invention.

F1 ure 2 is a view in elevation of the air and uel intake valve.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken at a right angle to Figure 2, and v I Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through one of the pumps.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates generally an internal combustion en gine, wherein use of the carburetor is dispensed with, and the device forming the subject matter of the invention is adapted to be used in place thereof.

The device embodies a gasoline supply tank 10 and a coal oil supply tank 11, both of which communicate with pumps indicated generally at B, thep'umps in turn having communication with an auxiliary gasoline tank 12 and a coal oil tank 13, through the pipes 14 and 15 respectively; Consequently, the.pumps B operate alternately to draw oil or gasoline 5 from one of the tanks 10 or 11 and convey said fuel to the corresponding auxiliary tanks 12 or 13, from where the fuel is conveyed to a mixing device to be hereinafter described, prior to being admitted to the cylinders of the motor. The fuel received by the tanks 12 and 13 is always under air pressure, the air occupying the space indicated at 16. in Figure 1. One of the pumps is clearly illustrated in section in Fig. 4, wherein it will be noted that the plunger 17 operates within the pump cylinder 18 and is actuated by an eccentric 19 associated with the shaft 20. This shaft is rotated from the motor crank shaft in any suitable manner, preferably by a chain and sprocket indicated at 21 in Figure 1. Each of the pumps include a normally seated suctioifvalve 22 which is opened on the upstroke of its plunger to receivefuel from the particular tank coupled with the inlet 23 of such pump, the fuel passing through the port 24 into the cylinder 18, so that on the down stroke of the plunger, the fuel is forced from the pump through the port 25 unseating the valve 26 and allowing the fuel to be conveyed to the appropriate auxiliary tank through the pipe connection above described. The pump also includes a normally seated relief valve 27 to take care of excessive pressure, which of course allows the excess fuel to flow through the passage 28 back to the supply tank communicating with such pump.

Supported by the side of the motor A are the air and fuel inlet and mixing devices, the construction of which is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. These devices are identical in construction and consequently a detailed description of one will suflice, for both. Each device embodies a tubular body portion 29 open at its outer end for theadmittance of air, while the opposite end communicates with one pair of cylinders of the motor; Arranged within the body portion 29 is a butterfly valve 30 which controls the admittance of air into what I term a mixing chamber 31, this chamber being confined to the space between the motor and the valve 30. The underside of this body portion is formcd with an annular flange 32, and secured to the flange is a similar flange 33 forming part of the duplex valve structure clearlyshown in Figure 3. This duplex valve structure comprises a pair of divergently disposed valve casings 34 and 35 respectively forming an in tegral part of the structure, each valve casing having its upper extremity communicating with the mixing chamber 31 above re ferred to. Projecting laterally from each valve casing is a threaded nipple 36 which is adapted to be coupled with a fuel supply pipe -as shown in Figure 1. The nipple 36 on the valve casing 34 is coupled with the supply pipe 37 of the gasoline supply tank 12, while v the nipple 36 of the valve casing 35 is coupled with the oil supplypipe 38 leading from the supply tank 13. Operating in each valve casing is a needle valve 39 which valves are normally held seated to'cut 'oif communication between the fuel supply tanks and the mixing chamber 31, by coil springs 40. The stem 41 of each valve supports a packing nut 42, and the corresponding lower extremities of these valve stems are connected with means which alternatively opens and closes said valves to admit air, gasoline or coal or other fuel oil into the motor. As above stated, the other mixing device is the same as that just described, except that the fuel inlets are coupled with the fuel tanks 12 and. 13 through the instrumentality of branch pipes 43 and 44 respectively, which of coursecommunicate with the pipes 37 and 38 respectively, above referred to. The butterfly valves 30 of the respective mixing devices are connected by an arm 45, which is terminally connected with a control rod 46, so that these valves can be operated in unison.

The two needle valves 39 in each mixing device are also simultaneously operated so that they may be opened or closed alterna-' tively, and in addition to 'that fact, the corresponding needle valves of the two mixing devices controlling the admission of gasoline I to the motor are simultaneously opened or closed, while the corresponding valves controlling'the oil supply ,are simultaneously closed or opened. For this purpose the corresponding extremities of the needle valves of each mixing device are pivotally con-- nectedwith opposite arms of/a cross head 47 carried by a T shaped link, while the stems an operating rod 49, one end of which is connected with a manually operable lever 50. Consequently, when the lever is moved in one direction, the corresponding needle valves-of the respective devices are opened to allow gasoline from the tank 12 to be introduced into the cylinders of the motor, and when the lever 50 is moved in an opposite direction, these valves are closed, and the needle valves controlling the oil supply opened, thus allowing the coal oil to be used as a fuel.

In practice, the gasoline and oil are conveyed from their respective supply tanks to the feed or pressure tanks 12 and 13 through the instrumentality of the pumps B above described, the fuel contained in the feed tanks being maintained under air pressure, so that this fuel isdelivered to "the valve casings 34, 35 under pressure. The lever 50 is shifted in the proper direction to open the needle valves 39 controllingcommunication between the gas-tank 12 "or valve casings 34 and the mixing chambers 31, to allow gasoline to be initially used to start the motor and keep the latter in operation until the motor has become sufliciently warm to permit of the use of crude oil as a fuel, at which time,'the lever 50 is shifted in the opposite direction to allow the needle valves just mentioned to be automatically closed under the tension of the springs 40, and at the same time open the needle valves which control communication between the oil tank 13 or valve casings 35 and the'mixing chambers 31. These valves then remain open'to allow oil to be used as fuel, in the subsequent operation of the motor. Both the gasoline and the oil are delivered to the motor in a fine spray under pressure from the mixing chamber 31 where the air supply joins'the atomized fuel, and as this mixing chamber is located adjacent to the motor intake the mixture passes directly to the cylinders. By this construction I avoid 'he use of carburetors, and also obtain a more rapid feed and better control of the fuel than can be obtained with the use of suction feed carburetors. Also, as the pressure on the fuel continues after the engine stops it will be evident that atomized fuel may be supplied to, the mixing chamber between the strokes of the pistons as well as before the engine is started, thereby facilitating the starting of the motor. The lever 50 cooperates with a toothed segment 51 which of course holds the lever in any given position. The construction manifestly provides for a more even and uniform feed for fuel through the cylinders with a consequent smoother operation of the motor.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I

" desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and de-' scribed, and that such changes may be resorted to, when desired as fall within the ber, of a plurality of fuel tanks, an auxiliary tank associated withieach of said fuel tanks and containing air under pressure, means connected with and actuated by the motor for-delivering fuel from each of said fuel tanks, alternatively, to the corresponding auxiliary tank, and normally closed needle valves 0 erable to deliver fuel alternatively from eit er of said auxiliary tanks to said mixing chamber under the pressure in the latter tanks. Y

2. In an internal combustion motor having a fuel intake, the combination with a plurality of fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel ofdifi'erent kinds, a plurality of auxiliary fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel under pressure, and means connected with and operated by the motor to transfer fuel from said fuel tanks, respectively to the appropriate auxiliary tanks and maintain the pressure therein, of a mixing chamber adjacent to and communicating with said intake, an air inlet leading to said mixing chamber, valve casings connected respectively with separate auxiliary tanks and needle valves in said casings operable independently of each other to alternatively admit fuel under pressure from eitherof said auxiliary tanks to said mixing chamber.

3. Inan-internal combustion motor having a fuel intake, the combination with a plurality of fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel of different kinds, a plurality of auxiliary fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel under air pressure, and means connected with and operated by the motor to alternatively transfer fuel from said fuel tanks, respectively, to said auxiliary tanks and maintain the pressure theren, of a mixing chamberqadjacent to and communicating with said intake, an air inlet leading to said mixing chamber, a duplex valve structure associated with said mixing chamber comprising a pair of divergingly-disposed valve casings communicating with said mixing chamber, needle valves in said valve casings operable to control the flow of fuel therethrough into the mixing chamber, springs holding said valves normally seated, pipes connecting said valve casings respectively with said auxiliary tanks, and means adapted to be actuated to'alternatively open or close either of said needle valves independently of the other.

4. In an internal combustion motor having a fuel intake, the combination with a plurality of fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel of different kinds, a plurality of auxilary fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel under air pressure, and means connected with and operated by the motor to alternatively transfer fuel from said fuel tanks, respectively, to said auxiliary tanks and maintain the pressure therein, of a mixing chamber adjacent to and communicating with said intake, an

air'inlet leading to said mixing chamber, a

duplex valve structure associated with said mixing chamber comprising a pair of divergingly-disposed valve casings communicating .With said mixing chamber, needle valves in said valve casings operable to control the flow of fuel therethrough into the mixing chamber, springs holding said valves normally seated, pipes connecting said valve casings respectively with said auxiliary tanks, and a T-shaped link connected with and fulcrumed on said valves and adapted to be operated toactuate either of said valves independently of the other.

5. In an internal combustion motor having a fuel intake, the combination with a mixing chamber located adjacent to said intake and communicating directly therewith, and means for admitting air to said mixing chamber, of a plurality of fuel tanks, an auxiliary tank associated with each of said fuel tanks and containing air under pressure, means connected with and actuated by the motor for delivering fuel from each of said fuel tanks, alternatively, to the corresponding auxiliary tank, normally closed valve means operable to deliver fuelalternativelyfrom either of said auxiliary tanks to said mixing chamber under the pressure in the latter tanks, and a device operable to actuate said valve means.

control the delivery of fuel to able to maintain a supply of fuel in eachof, said auxiliary tanks from the corresponding fuel tanks, means operatively connecting the motor with said pumping means, normally closed valve means operable to deliver fuel alternatively from either of said auxiliary tanks to said mixing chamber' under the air pressure in the latter tanks, and a device operable to actuate said valve means to selectively control the delivery of fuel to said chamber. z

7 In an internal combustion motor having a fuel intake, the combination with a mixfuel tanks, means operatively connecting the motor with said pumping means, normally closed valve means separately connected with each of said auxiliary fuel tanks and operable to deliver fuel alternatively from either of the latter tanks to said mixing chamber under the air pressure in said tanks, and a device operable to actuate said valve means to selectively control the delivery of fuel to said chamber.

8. In an internal combustion motor having a fuel intake, the combination with a plurality of fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel of different kinds, a plurality of auxiliary fuel tanks adapted to contain air under pressure, and means connected with and operated by the motor to transfer fuel from said fuel tanks, respectively, to the appropriate auxiliary tanks and maintain the pressure therein, of a mixing chamber adjacent to and communicating with said intake, an air inletleadin to said mixing chamber, normally closed va ve means operable to alternatively admit fuel under pressure from either of said auxiliary tanks to said mixing chamber, and a device operable to actuate said valve means to selectively control the delivery of fuelto said chamber.

9. In an internal combustion motor having a fuel intake, the combination with a plurality of fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel of difierent kinds, a plurality of auxiliary fuel tanks adapted to contain fuel under air pressure, pumping means. operable to transfer fuel from said fuel tanks, respectively, to

with and actuated by the motor and respectively having separate connections with said fuel and auxiliary tanks, whereby fuel from one or the otherof said fuel tanks may be forced by said pumps into one or the other of said auxiliary tanks, normally closed valves operable to alternatively supply fuel under pressure from either of said auxiliary tanks to said mixing chamber, and a device operable to actuate said valves to selectively control the delivery of fuel to said chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

J OHN, T. BARNHART.

the appropriate auxiliary tanks and maintain the air pressure therein, and means for operating said pumping means from the motor, of a mixing chamber adjacent to and communicating with said intake, to said mixing chamber, normally closed valve means separately connected with said auxiliary tanks and operable to alternatively admit fuel under air pressure from either of said tanks to said mixing chamber, and a device operable to actuate said valve means to selectively control the delivery of fuel to said chamber.

10. In an internal combustion motor hav- 111g ing chamber adjacent to and communicating with said intake, and means for admitting air to said mixing chamber, of a plurality of fuel tanks, a plurality of auxiliary tanks associated respectively with said fuel tanks and containing air under pressure, pumps connected an air inlet leadinga fuel intake, the combination witha mix- 

